S degradation process. Since SUMO-1 modifications target theThe Effect of SUMOylation on Ataxin-Figure 2. SUMO-1 modification did not affect the subcellular localization of ataxin-3. HEK293 cells were transfected with plasmids expressing GFP-tagged ataxin-3 or mutant ataxin-3K166R in the presence of endogenous SUMO-1. Both ataxin-3-20Q and ataxin-3-20QK166R were localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm uniformly, and the aggregates that formed expressed ataxin-3-68Q and ataxin-3-68QK166R (A). Immunoblotting analysis of subcellular fractionation of ataxin-3 shows no differences between the various groups (B). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054214.gsame lysine residue as ubiquitin, many researches have revealed a dynamic interplay between the related ubiquitination and SUMOylation pathways [38]. We first performed immunoprecipitation assays to detect the ubiquitination differences between ataxin-3 and ataxin-3K166R. However, we didn’t find any evidence that SUMOylation of ataxin-3 affect ataxin-3 ubiquitination, which also indicate there is no competition between SUMO-1 and ubiquitin for binding site K166. Subsequently, the soluble/insoluble and total protein level of sumoylated and un-sumoylated proteins were also examined, bothbands of soluble and insoluble fraction of ataxin-3-68Q were denser than those of ataxin-3-68QK166R indicating the SUMOylation modification of mutant-type ataxin-3 might enhance the stability of the protein and participate in the pathogenesis process of SCA3/MJD to a certain degree. In addition, we Title Loaded From File further confirmed SUMO-1 modification decreased the degradation and enhanced the stability of mutant-type ataxin-3 by chase assay. Therefore, we have no reason to doubt that although SUMO-1 modification on K166 does not influence the UPS pathway but probably affect other processes such as autophagy for mutant-typeThe Effect of SUMOylation on Ataxin-Figure 3. SUMO-1 modification did not affect ataxin-3 ubiquitination. (A) HEK293 cells were co-transfected with GFP-ataxin-3 and FlagSUMO-1. The cells were treated with 10 mM MG132 for 12 h and subject to immunoprecipitation analysis using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against GFP. The immunoprecipitants were subject to immunoblotting analysis with the indicated antibodies. (B) HEK293 cells were transfected with GFPataxin-3 or GFP-ataxin-3K166R. The cells were treated with 10 mM MG132 for 12 h and subject to immunoprecipitation analysis using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against GFP. The immunoprecipitants were subject to immunoblotting analysis with the indicated antibodies. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054214.gataxin-3 degradation. Increased polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 stability might leads to multiple consequences. On the one hand, polyQexpanded ataxin-3 is more easily gathered to form aggregates. On the other hand, the concentration of the monomer or oligomer of polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 might increases as huntingtin (26), leading to increased cytotoxicity, promotion of apoptosis, and acceleration of the pathological process in SCA3/MJD pathogenicity. PolyQ disorders are characterized pathologically by the accumulation of protein aggregates within neurons. Whether the microscopically visible inclusions play a causal role in disease pathogenesis or protect Title Loaded From File neurons from the affects of toxic proteins remains unclear [26,39]. Therefore, as a central pathological event in polyQ disorders, aggregation needs to be better understood, particularly from a therapeutic point of view. In agreement wit.S degradation process. Since SUMO-1 modifications target theThe Effect of SUMOylation on Ataxin-Figure 2. SUMO-1 modification did not affect the subcellular localization of ataxin-3. HEK293 cells were transfected with plasmids expressing GFP-tagged ataxin-3 or mutant ataxin-3K166R in the presence of endogenous SUMO-1. Both ataxin-3-20Q and ataxin-3-20QK166R were localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm uniformly, and the aggregates that formed expressed ataxin-3-68Q and ataxin-3-68QK166R (A). Immunoblotting analysis of subcellular fractionation of ataxin-3 shows no differences between the various groups (B). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054214.gsame lysine residue as ubiquitin, many researches have revealed a dynamic interplay between the related ubiquitination and SUMOylation pathways [38]. We first performed immunoprecipitation assays to detect the ubiquitination differences between ataxin-3 and ataxin-3K166R. However, we didn’t find any evidence that SUMOylation of ataxin-3 affect ataxin-3 ubiquitination, which also indicate there is no competition between SUMO-1 and ubiquitin for binding site K166. Subsequently, the soluble/insoluble and total protein level of sumoylated and un-sumoylated proteins were also examined, bothbands of soluble and insoluble fraction of ataxin-3-68Q were denser than those of ataxin-3-68QK166R indicating the SUMOylation modification of mutant-type ataxin-3 might enhance the stability of the protein and participate in the pathogenesis process of SCA3/MJD to a certain degree. In addition, we further confirmed SUMO-1 modification decreased the degradation and enhanced the stability of mutant-type ataxin-3 by chase assay. Therefore, we have no reason to doubt that although SUMO-1 modification on K166 does not influence the UPS pathway but probably affect other processes such as autophagy for mutant-typeThe Effect of SUMOylation on Ataxin-Figure 3. SUMO-1 modification did not affect ataxin-3 ubiquitination. (A) HEK293 cells were co-transfected with GFP-ataxin-3 and FlagSUMO-1. The cells were treated with 10 mM MG132 for 12 h and subject to immunoprecipitation analysis using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against GFP. The immunoprecipitants were subject to immunoblotting analysis with the indicated antibodies. (B) HEK293 cells were transfected with GFPataxin-3 or GFP-ataxin-3K166R. The cells were treated with 10 mM MG132 for 12 h and subject to immunoprecipitation analysis using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against GFP. The immunoprecipitants were subject to immunoblotting analysis with the indicated antibodies. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054214.gataxin-3 degradation. Increased polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 stability might leads to multiple consequences. On the one hand, polyQexpanded ataxin-3 is more easily gathered to form aggregates. On the other hand, the concentration of the monomer or oligomer of polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 might increases as huntingtin (26), leading to increased cytotoxicity, promotion of apoptosis, and acceleration of the pathological process in SCA3/MJD pathogenicity. PolyQ disorders are characterized pathologically by the accumulation of protein aggregates within neurons. Whether the microscopically visible inclusions play a causal role in disease pathogenesis or protect neurons from the affects of toxic proteins remains unclear [26,39]. Therefore, as a central pathological event in polyQ disorders, aggregation needs to be better understood, particularly from a therapeutic point of view. In agreement wit.